Vehicle-pole.



M. E. ANDERSON.

VEHICLE POLE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. I3. 19I4.

Patented May 4, 1915.

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MARTIN E. ANDERSON, OF 13E KALB, ILLINOIIS; ASSIGNOR OF UNE-THIRD TO HIMSELF, A0NE-'.lfl'lfi) T0 FRANK G.,ANDERSON, ANB @NE-THIS@ '1,0 ANDREW' O. ANDERSN,

ALL OF DE HALE, ILLINOS.

y' VEHICLE-POLE.

Patented May a, 1915.

, Application led AprillS, 1914. Serial No. 831,603.

T0 @ZZ I1li/7mm t may concern Be it known that 1, MARTIN E. ANDERSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at De Kalb, in the county of Dekalb and State of Illinois, have invented certain new andy useful improvements in VehiclePoles, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to vehicle poles or tongues, and has for its object to provide a new and improved metaltongue which will be light but iirmand rigid. accomplish this object as illustrated inthe drawings and as hereinafter described.

That which lbelieve to be" new is set forth in the claims. Y

1n the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a 4plan view illustrating my invention embodied in an ordinary vehicle or implement pole; Fig. 2 is a similar view showing a form of pole suitable for vehicles used in cities or other places where it is necessary to remove the pole frequently; Fig. 3 is a similar view showing a pole intended for use with wagons having hounds, suchas ordinary farm wagons; Fig. 4 is a. cross-section on line '11-4 of Figs'. 1 and 2; and Fig. 5 is a cross-section on line 5 5 of Figs. 1, 2 and 3. i

My improved pole or tongue comprises two bars,`U-shaped in cross-section, which are oppositely disposed with their front `end portions in'contact so that the channels are on the inside, said bars diverging from their point of contact toward the rear where they approach a state' of parallelism, the opposite portions being usually two or three inches apart. Between the separated portions of the lJ-bars, spacing-members are fitted at intervals, said spacing-members being either hollow or solid blocks of wood or metal which are shaped to lit the inner contour of the U-bars and are firmly secured to the U-bars by transverse bolts or rivets which pass through the U -barsj and through the spacing-members. At the rear end portion of the pole, an elongated block or spacing-member is provided, which eX- tends preferably for about a quarter of the length of the pole and is fitted into the channels of the U-bars and secured in position. This elongated member not only makes the rear end portion of the pole more solid, but also materially aids in resisting any torsion strains to which the pole is subjected. It also provides a convenient means of attaching the equalizer and for attaching the pole to the vehicle or other implement to which it is applied. In additionto the elongated spacing-block, l also provide a cover-plate which extends forward from the forward portion of the elongated member a sui'iicient distance to cover the wider portion of the space between the U-bars. This coverplate is also fitted in the channels of the U-bars, resting on the spacing-members, and further strengthens thev pole and besides prevents the horses from Vaccidentally getting their hind feetbetween the members of the pole. The converging portions of the U-bars are made slightly bowed or curved, their outer surfaces being convex, thereby giving them greater strength. This curve is effected by bending them over the spacing-members, which act as struts and are consequently held in place vby the tension of the U-bars as well as by the bolts or rivets which pass through them.

Referring now to the drawings for a more detaileddescription of my improved pole, 6 7 indicate the U-bars which form the principal members of the pole and are'of the form in cross-section shown in Figs. 4 and 5, being U shape with rounded corners. Fig. 5 illustrates the manner in which the front end portions of the U-bars fit together, from which it will be seen that their upper and lower flanges abut. Rivets 8 9 tightly bind the front end portions of the tongue memberstogether.

10 l1 indicate two of the intermediate spacing-members, which are itted into the channels of the bars 6 7. Fig. 4 shows the` spacing-member 11 in place, from which it will be seen that the spacing-member fits the inner contour of the bars 6 7 and is heldin place by a rivet-12 which passes through the spacing-member and also through the bars 6 7. The spacing-member 10 is similar to the spacingfmember 11 and is secured in position in the same way.

13 indicates the elongated spacing-member of the tongue shown in Fig. 1. The spacing-member 13 is of substantially uniform width from end to end and is fitted into the channels of the bars 6 7 and secured by rivets 14 -15. 1t also fits the inner contour of said bars, and may be either hollow or. solid and of wood or iron, as

preferred. As heretofore explained, it greatly strengthens the rear end portion of the tongue and serves to prevent distortion of the bars 6 7 through twisting strains. Y

16 indicates the cover-plate, which is fitted upon the spacing-member 11 and the forward portion of the spacing-memberV 13 so as to underlie the upper flanges of the bars 6 7, which hold it in place. The margins of the plate 16 are shaped to conform to the shape of the tongue, vas shown.

The pole shown in Fig. 2 is very much the same as that shown in Fig. l, except that its rear end portion tapers inwardly to adapt it to fit the usual socket provided in the running gear of the vehicle. The elongated spacing-member and cover-plate are correspondingly shaped so as to fit properly in position.

In the construction shown in Fig. 3, the rear end portions of the U-bars 6--7 diverge to adapt them to fit the hounds 17 of the wagon, and 'the spacing-member isy correspondingly shaped. In this construction the tongue is pivoted upon a pivot-bolt 18, as shown -in Fig. 3, and I preferably provide the spacing-member with a hammer-strap 19 to whichthe whiiiie-trees vare connected in the usual way.

In the claims I have used the term vehicle-pole in defining my invention for the purpose of vdistinguishing from poles of other sorts not intended for use with draft animals, and I wish it to be understood that the term vehicle is so used in a generic sense and is not intended to limit the claims to poles or tongues for what are vehicles strictly speaking, as my improved pole may be used not only for wheeled vehicles but also for implements of various kinds, whether wheeled or not; in fact, for any device requiring the use of a pole or tongue in connection with draft animals.

'Ihat which I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is,-

1. A vehicle pole comprising two oppositely disposed U-bars having their flanged edges in contact for a portion of their length at the front ends, means for firmly securing together said contacting ends, said bars slightly diverging from the contacting portions rearwardly on curved lines, narrow substantially rectangular spacing frame members betweensaid diverging bars and sitely-diisposed U-bars having a substantial portion of their front end portions in contact, an elongated spacing-member fitted between the rear end portions-of said bars and holding them a distance apart, said spacing member closing the space between said bars 'for a substantial portion of their length, and devices securing said bars together.

3. A vehicle-pole comprising two oppositely-disposed U-bars, a substantial length' of the forward ends of said bars being secured in contact, an elongated spacing-member fitted between the rear end portions of said bars, one or more 'intermediate spacingmembers between said bars in advance of said elongated member, la cover-plate fitted between said members to close the space between the bars for a substantial portion of their length in advance of said elongated member, and devices for securing said bars and said spacing-members firmly together.

4. A vehicle-pole comprising two oppositely-disposed U-bars for a substantial portion of their length secured in contact, an elongated spacing-member fitted between the rear end portions of said bars, one or more intermediate spacing-members between said bars in advance of said elongated member and snugly fitting the inner contour of said bars, a cover-plate fitted between said members in advance of said elongated member, and devices for securing said bars andy said spacing-members firmly together,said coverplate resting upon two of said spacing-members.

y MARTIN E. ANDERSON.

Witnesses to signature: JOHN BLooi/rs'rnoM` AXEL ANDERSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for'ive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, Il. c. 

